Sudden she|ceased, with a |shriek: in the |spray, like a |hovering |foam-bow,
Hung, more |fair than the |foam-bow, a |boy in the |bloom of his |manhood,
Golden-haired, |ivory-limbed, |ambro|sial; |over his |shoulder
Hung for a |veil of his |beauty the |gold-fringed |folds of the |goat-skin,
Bearing the |brass of his |shield, as the |sun flashed |clear on its |clearness.

Curved on his |thigh lay a |falchion; and |under the |gleam of his |helmet
Eyes more |blue than the |main shone |awful, a|round him A|thené
Shed in her |love such |grace, such |state, and |terrible |daring.

Hovering |over the |water he |came, upon |glittering |pinions,
Living, a |wonder, out|grown from the |tight-laced |gold of his |sandals;
Bounding from |billow to |billow, and |sweeping the c|rests like a |sea-gull;
Leaping the |gulfs of the |surge, as he |laughed in the |joy of his |leaping.

Fair and ma|jestic he |sprang to the |rock; and the |maiden in |wonder
Gazed for a|while, and then |hid in the |dark-rolling |wave of her |tresses,
Fearful, the |light of her |eyes; while the |boy (for her |sorrow had |awed him)
Blushed at her |blushes, and |vanished, like |mist on the |cliffs at the |sunrise.

Fearful at |length she looked |forth: he was |gone: she, |wild with a|mazement,
Wailed for her |mother a|loud: but the |wail of the |wind only |answered.

Sudden he |flashed into |sight, by her |side; in his |pity and |anger
Moist were his |eyes; and his breath |like a rose-|bed, as |bolder and |bolder,
Hovering |under her |brows, like a |swallow that |haunts by the |house-eaves,
Delicate-|handed, he |lifted the |veil of her |hair; while the |maiden
Motionless, |frozen with |fear, wept |loud; till |his lips un|closing
Poured from their |pearl-strung |portal the |musical |wave of his |wonder.
‘Ah,’ well |spoke she, the |wise one, the |grey-eyed |Pallas A|thené,—

‘Known to Im|mortals a|lone are the |prizes which |lie for the |heroes
Ready pre|pared at their |feet; for re|quiring a |little, the |rulers
Pay back the |loan ten|fold to the |man who, |careless of |pleasure,
Thirsting for |honour and |toil, fares |forth on a |perilous |errand
Led by the |guiding of |gods, and |strong in the |strength of Im|mortals.

Thus have they |led me to |thee: from a|far, un|knowing, I |marked thee,
Shining, a |snow-white |cross on the |dark-green |walls of the |sea-cliff;
Carven in |marble I |deemed thee, a |perfect |work of the |craftsman.
Likeness of |Amphi|trité, or |far-famed |Queen Cyther|eia.

Curious I |came, till I |saw how thy |tresses |streamed in the |sea-wind,
Glistening, |black as the |night, and thy |lips moved |slow in thy |wailing.

Speak a|gain now—Oh |speak! For my |soul is |stirred to a|venge thee;
Tell me what |barbarous |horde, without |law, un|righteous and |heartless,
Hateful to |gods and to |men, thus have |bound thee, a |shame to the |sunlight,
Scorn and |prize to the |sailor: but |my prize |now; for a |coward,
Coward and |shameless were |he, who so |finding a |glorious |jewel
Cast on the |wayside by |fools, would not |win it and |keep it and |wear it,
Even as I |will thee; |for I |swear by the |head of my |father,
Bearing thee |over the |sea-wave, to |wed thee in |Argos the |fruitful,
Beautiful, |meed of my |toil no |less than this |head which I |carry,
Hidden here |fearful—Oh |speak!’ But the |maid, still |dumb with a|mazement,
Watered her |bosom with |weeping, and |longed for her |home and her |mother.